The sound of dozens of basketballs filled the Remington Boys and Girls Club in New Rochelle last Thursday, August 15. It was neither a tryout nor a break during the school day.
Dozens of young people participated in a week-long event organized by Kashif Hameed, founder of Klinic Kids, a program that combines basketball with resources for mental health, physical wellness and social-emotional learning.
“We use sports as a tool to motivate them and show them how they can learn these skills, to develop coping mechanisms and things that can help them in life,” Hameed said.
Hameed founded the program over two years ago and is bringing it to schools and community centers nationwide. Every day there are check-ins with coaches, all former professional and college athletes, visits from a mental health counselor and mentoring opportunities.
Of course, the children also get the chance to work on their basketball skills, but for Hameed, the children’s performance on the court is just as important as their performance off it.
“Who knows, maybe they’ll play basketball like we do, but if not, at least they’ll have a foundation of skills that can help them off the court,” he said.
Last week, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado stopped by to talk about how basketball has impacted his life and delivered a message he hoped would inspire the next generation of leaders.
“No matter what is going on in your world, you can always count on love living within you,” Delgado said.
